Oppositionist forced to serve in Paulichenka’s troops unit

A Mozyr dweller Khvedar Charankou who had been expelled from the university for participation in a protest rally against repeal of benefits, is to be taken to the army in two days after his birthday when he turns 18. He is to serve in the military unit No. 3214. As workers of the local military enlistment office say, he is to “disband meetings” and to “impose order” in Minsk.

Last November the 17-year-old Mozyr dweller Khvedar Charankou was expelled from the 1 year of the Mozyr State Pedagogical University. He was studying at Engineering and Pedagogic faculty, the European Radio for Belarus informs.

After a rally of protest against repeal of benefits organised by Khvedar Charankou and his friends, he suddenly became a “non-achiever”, though he was the top student of the faculty before that. Khvedar‘s mother, who worked in the university, was forced to write a letter of resignation from her position due to a desire to terminate the employment, told Yury Charankou, Khvedar’s father. He was threatened by dismissal as well, but he is still working.

The former student turns 18 on July 18, but he is to receive a call-up document on Monday, June 30. A district policeman has told his parents about that, saying that Khvedar is to serve in the military unit No. 3214 where Zmitser Paulichenka is a commander. “Our district policeman called us on the phone on behalf of the commander of the military unit No. 3214. He confirmed that to me,” Khvedar Charankou’s father told.

The district policeman asked where Khvedar studied, whether he had been expelled and why, what he was doing and whether he plans to work in police after his military service. Yury Charankou notes that his son is to be taken to the army on Sunday an July 20 2 days after his birthday in the framework of a special drafting, as military enlistment offices are closed on Sundays.

Khvedar is to go to receive the call-up paper on June 30, and then it will be clear where he is to be sent for military service.